Final day of the NCC Bioblitz. I spent the morning on the Birchwood Trails in Fort McMurray, AB. It took some effort to find some very skittish birds, but patience always pays off. #NCCBioBlitz #birds #wildlife #naturephotography

Day 4 of the NCC BioBlitz. I revisited a friend at the Parson's Creek wetland in Fort McMurray. This bold little Horned Grebe has grown incredibly fast, from the July 1 photo as a nestling to today's as an independent youngster. #NCCBioBlitz #birds #wildlife #naturephotography

Day Three of NCC BioBlitz. North Abasand, Fort McMurray, AB. Birds were very skittish, perhaps because of the presence of American Kestrels. One magpie and a western tanager did confront one of the kestrels. #NCCBioBlitz #birds #wildlife #naturephotography

Day three of NCC BioBlitz. Windy and cold morning by the Clearwater River, just one kestrel braving the wind and tracks of a beach-going bear and maybe a cub. #NCCBioBlitz #birds #wildlife #naturephotography

Day two of the NCC BioBlitz. I spent the morning at Engstrom Lake, AB, and came back with over 800 photos. So many species of birds at one site, and lots of dragonflies. Some firsts for me: pelicans and an osprey. #birds #wildlife #naturephotography #NCCBioBlitz

First day of the annual Big Backyard BioBlitz. Nice black bear and a snowshoe hare that thinks it's a bloodhound following a scent. #NCCBioBlitz #wildlife #naturephotography

Some of the birds observed over the past few weeks on the Parson's Creek ponds in Fort McMurray.

I’ve been following the progress of Horned Grebes on a pond nearby. Grebes nest close to the water line. After torrential rains, one nest was submerged with all eggs lost. Another, where the chicks hatched before the rise in water levels, is doing fine. Here is the mom with one of three chicks.

The winters up here are cold, but we are in the breeding range of many beautiful bird species such as the horned grebe that come up and visit in the summer .

One of my main interests is nature photography (iNaturalist: YMMJPD). I came across this protective mom on a short walk by the Snye, an offshoot of the Clearwater River in Fort McMurray. We are in the breeding range of many species, so the summer is busy for birds and birders alike.